Google Voice can forward calls to another number, and that’s how you connect it to Clara. You point your Google Voice number at your Clara Number, and Clara answers from there. Your customers keep calling the same Google Voice number as always.
It takes a few minutes. A few settings catch most people out, so we’ve flagged them as we go.
What you’ll need
- Your Google Voice number, the one you give to customers
- Your Clara NumberIn the Clara app, go to Settings → Call Handling and tap your number to copy it , found in the Clara app under Settings → Call Handling
Step 1: Link your Clara Number to Google Voice
This is easiest on a computer.
Set your Answering Time to 10s or higher first
Before you enter your Clara Number, open the Clara app and set your Answering Time to 10 seconds or higher. This gives Google Voice enough time to connect the call.
- Go to voice.google.com and sign in
- Click the settings icon, top right
- Select Account from the left menu
- Under Linked numbers, click New linked number
- Enter your Clara Number
- Under the number box, switch the verification method to Verify by phone call
Switch to phone call, not text
Google Voice verifies by text by default, with a small link under the box to verify by phone call instead. A text cannot reach Clara, so choose phone call before you continue.
Google Voice then calls your Clara Number and reads out a verification code:
- When the call comes through, answer it in the Clara app
- Listen for the code Google reads out
- Type that code into Google Voice to confirm
Google only calls once, and the code expires after a few minutes. If you miss it, start the linking step again for a fresh code, or message us and we’ll verify it with you.
Setting up on your phone instead? Open the Google Voice app, tap Menu → Settings → Devices and linked numbers → New linked number, and follow the same steps.
Step 2: Turn off call screening
Google Voice normally asks callers to say their name, then plays “press 1 to accept” to whoever answers. Clara cannot press 1, so the call never connects. Turn screening off so calls reach Clara.
- In Google Voice, go to Settings → Calls
- Set Screen calls to Off
- Switch Do not disturb off too, or Google Voice sends calls to voicemail instead of Clara
Skip this and Clara cannot answer
With screening on, your callers hear ringing and then get cut off. Turning it off is what lets Clara pick up.
Also turn off the setting that hides the caller's real number
By default, Google Voice can show your own Google Voice number as the caller ID on forwarded calls. When that happens, Clara cannot tell who is really calling and may greet customers with the wrong name.
While you’re in Settings → Calls, turn off Show my Google Voice number as caller ID when forwarding calls. On your phone, open the Google Voice app and tap Menu → Settings → Calls to find the same setting.
With this off, Clara receives the actual caller’s number and can greet them correctly. Leaving it on means every call appears to come from your Google Voice number.
Step 3: Check Clara is the forwarding destination
- In Google Voice, go to Settings → Calls
- Under your linked numbers, make sure your Clara Number is switched on
- To have only Clara answer, switch your other linked numbers off. Leave them on if you’d like your own phone to ring as well
Step 4: Test it
Call your Google Voice number from another phone. Clara should answer. If it rings your own phone instead, check Step 3, your Clara Number should be the one switched on.
If it’s not working
Callers hear ringing, then get cut off
Call screening is still on. Google Voice is waiting for someone to press 1, and Clara cannot. Go to Settings → Calls → Screen calls and set it to Off (Step 2).
Google Voice only offered to verify by text
Look for Verify by phone call on the linking screen. It’s a small link under the number box, beneath the text option. A text cannot reach Clara, so the phone-call option is the one you need (Step 1).
Clara greets callers with the wrong name
Google Voice is showing your own number as the caller ID on forwarded calls, so every call looks like it comes from you. In Settings → Calls, turn off Show my Google Voice number as caller ID when forwarding calls (Step 2).
Calls still ring my own phone
Your personal number is probably still linked. In Settings → Calls, switch off every linked number except your Clara Number, or change the ring order so Clara answers first (Step 3).
Turn it off
To stop Clara answering your Google Voice calls, see How to stop Clara from picking up your calls.
Still need help?
Reach us at [email protected] and someone from our team will help you get it working.